Simchick Meats

Apparently the owner of this store doesn’t really care about doing business. I walk by this shop every day and have gone in from time to time. I would go in much more often if it wasn’t for some of the staff (not all). The rudest butcher is a relatively young and definitely not a relative of owner. That’s the only thing that would explain why he is employed there
The last time I was in there I needed some veal cutlets. I asked him to pound them (scallopine). I wasn’t paying attention as I assumed they would be done properly. He was in a bad mood about something and took it out on my cutlets. When I opened them before preparing dinner I was appalled. They were beyond mutilated. My first inclination was to bring them back immediately. I made an attempt to cook them and they were totally inedible. Threw in garbage. This little fiasco cost about $ 15. I went in to complain the next day and got total attitude
My neighbor buys their prepared food which I have had occasion to sample. Horrible
Their meats are definitely good quality but not great (not in class of Lobels by a long shot)

There aren’t many options in our neighborhood, so I really wanted to like this place. We generally like to support local businesses, but this one just doesn’t deserve its high prices. Service is uneven, from okay to downright rude. Their selection of cuts and meats are decent, but they gave me a lot of attitude when I asked them to spatchcock a Thanksgiving turkey. First guy I talked to on the phone didn’t know what I was asking when I placed my order. When I went to pick it up, the butcher dismissed a single special request is made. He said: «I know what I’m doing, this is my job.» Okay, he might have been having a bad day, but I was about to spend $ 75 on a turkey. I think I deserve to make at least one special request without the attitude. This is why I went to a butcher and not to Whole Foods. Also, skip the prepared foods which are too salty and not very fresh. Also, the entire store could use a good scrubbing/​cleaning. I’ve been to this shop at least 3 times in the past year and this past week’s unpleasant experience will be my last.

I waited to write this review. I was hoping to get over it. I usually do — I get steamed easily, and I just as easily let go. But something about my venturing here keeps me hanging on to a relatively minor grudge. Seemingly, all was ok. I got a cut of meat and I left. Meat was fine. But I came here upon reading reviews with a mindset on custom butcher service. Thinking next time will go to MortonWilliams. It’s been 3 weeks of trying to be rational. And then I figured — if it’s not passed, I was rational to begin with. I feel like (a) I was brushed off because I came in 30 minutes before closing and (b) I was sold not the cut I wanted simply because it was close to closing. I needed a pork loin with a good layer of fat and the one they had in the display had hardly any. Was told by the guy at the counter they don’t have anything else. I don’t believe it for a minute. Got the meat, had to improvize with porkbelly I always stock. But was not the cut I needed. It’s a BUTCHER SHOP, not a supermarket. One gets to tell a butcher what one needs, and the butcher cuts one that specific piece. In hindsight, should have turned around and left. Going forward, will just go elsewhere. Seems to be same «young» butcher others had iffy experiences with. If he’s the owner’s son, he’s not learning anything by what he’s doing and costing you business. Keep him in the back. Have him handle the books, not the meat.

Horrible Customer Service! Tried to scam a woman with a baby out of 2 steaks and 1 piece of organic chicken. I will not be coming back to this place even if I was offered free meat for 1 year.
Yesterday I bought 2 steaks and also a piece of organic chicken for my baby. It was almost closing time but there were still customers inside. First thing I noticed is that their entrance doesn’t have an easy access for the disabled. I was with my baby in a stroller and no one bothered to open the door for me. The young butcher was right there, close to the door, where he saw me struggling to open the door and push the stroller inside. He just stood there.
When is my turn, I ask a few questions about the steaks and if they have organic chicken. The butcher seemed annoyed that I was asking questions. Very well. I placed my order and asked for a receipt. For some reason I asked for a real receipt, the ones that states your purchase and how much each item costs. My baby starts fussing a little bit and I give her some water while the butcher is writing the receipt.
When I get home (20 min later) and realize that I don’t have the butcher bag with me, I immediately call them and leave a voice mail saying that I forgot my purchase there. I leave my name and phone number. Didn’t receive a call back. (I know I have been very exhausted due to lack of sleep but I don’t usually forget things like that. I was not given then bag. I was given the receipt while I was attending to my baby and just left without asking for the bag. My bad.)
This morning I go there and ask the butcher if he remembers me. I say that I left my order in the store. He looks at me with a suspicious look and say «oh yes you bought chicken» I said yes and that I also bought 2 steaks. He immediately got defensive and his attitude insinuates that I’m lying? Then I say that I have a receipt and he says ‘I want to see that receipt!” Wow. Then he goes off by saying that he doesn’t have the bag with my meat. That he put it in the counter and that I should have not forget to take it with me. That they don’t give credit for things like that bla bla bla. (WHO ASKED FOR CREDIT?). Then one of the Spanish butchers opens some fridge door and gives me my bag. I thank him and head to the door to leave. The young butcher still has the nerve to come tell me that I should not forget things and that if someone had taken the bag they couldn’t do anything bla bla bla… I just told him a few things and left so I didn’t have to loose too much my temper in front of my baby daughter.
My only conclusion is that they were trying to scam me for $ 40. Trying to scam a woman out of 2 steaks and chicken for her baby. Shame on you! If I didn’t have the real receipt, I would’ve left empty handed.
This neighborhood needs another butcher store ASAP!
(This place was suggested to me by the neighborhood fish store that I love. I will tell them what happened. Also, that by recommending this butcher store to their clients will only reflect bad for them)

Had a good opinion before, but sold me ground steak for Steak Tartare which was not suitable and made us sick during the night. It might have been a good cut for cooking but not for raw eating (tartare).
Even worse is that they never answered our emails when we complained about it.
Oddly, when we wrote to ask about prices they answered right away…

I walked in and said I really don’t know much about meat and they were great with walking me through the different cuts and how to prepare it. So helpful and passionate about their trade without being pretentious. Got the tenderloin and omg — they must message the cows! It was heavenly! Thank you!!! A+++++

Great butcher. The quality of the meat cannot be beat. Much better than all of the supermarkets and even the new Wholefoods in the area. Yes, the price is high but it is worth the splurge.

Phenomenal old-​school butcher, excellent quality. I’m amazed to realize how long I’ve been eating chicken and steak without knowing how good it tastes when it is fresh. So lucky to have this place in the neighborhood.

Simchick’s is possibly the only decent butcher in the neighborhood. And if you go there (maybe a few times), you’ll realize it’s not just decent; it’s excellent.
It’s pricey, yes, but hence the quality of the meats and the helpfulness of the staff. Also probably because, again, there is no other comparable butchers around here.
I love their prepared meals. I paid $ 12 a pint for some really, really good boeuf bourguignon… the kind where meat is so tender it crumbles and the red wine sauce makes it sort of melt in your mouth.
OH AND THEY DELIVER. $ 20 minimum; awesome option for busy people.

Simchick is amazing, one of my favorite things in the neighborhood. They have basically any cut of meat that you could want, plus amazing prepared foods (side dishes, soups, ready to cook entrees, you name it).
In addition to stocking basically everything, Simchick also has really great prices, and often has specials on different Prime cuts of meat. Prices are literally sometimes ¼ of the price at butchers like Lobel’s, and the quality is just as high. On top of the low price, they always do a careful job of trimming any unwanted fat from the meat before they weigh and price it, adding even more to the value.
The guys there are always more than happy to provide cooking tips and instructions (including some tips that I had never thought of but use all the time now when cooking steak!).

I haven’t been to many butchers before so I don’t have much of a comparison, but I can honestly say that Simchick had a great selection of meats as well as a very knowledgeable and friendly staff. My boyfriend and I were cooking for a dinner party this weekend and steaks were on the menu. We went to Simchick and told them the amount of people we had and they recommended a few different choices and told us the pros and cons for each. Once we picked the one we wanted, the helped us determine how much we would need. They also cut and trimmed the meat so all we had to do was salt & pepper it and put it in the oven. Further, they put some bacon around it to give it some extra flavor. I think the one touch that made me really like Simchick was that they hand wrote a note telling us exactly how to cook the meat and how long to put it in the oven. I am a remedial cook (and that is being nice), so this was greatly appreciated! They truly made our dinner party a success and there were no kitchen mishaps!

I would have loved to live in the 1960’s and have to go to the butcher for your dinner, have a milk man bring the glass milk bottles to your door, and people being friendlier in general. That is my impression of the 1960’s at least, but I could be way off. Anyway, on to the review.
We were having a dinner party Saturday night and since we decided to serve martini’s and scotch, we decided steak would be the main course. Isn’t that how everybody does it? Decide what you want to drink and then match the food accordingly… After looking at all the delicious meats on display, I asked the butcher about a porterhouse. I told him how many people were coming and he thought about it for a second and said «I think you are better with the ribeye because serving 6 – 8 people with porterhouse will run you about $ 250». He could have just chopped up a few pounds of the porterhouse and then told me the price only to have me backtrack. But he gave me options. He also inquired if everybody at pork (of course we do!). After cutting this beautiful ribeye steak for us, he put some bacon on the top for some extra flavor. After giving me simple instructions, we were on our way. In and out with 10 lbs of steak in 15 minutes. Total cost was about $ 130.
Great place and great quality.

Great old school butcher shop. They do a hot Italian sausage here that is out of this world — when done on a smoker it is one of the richest meats you will ever taste. I have also had them do custom cuts including pork butt and they were more than happy to oblige. I called a few days in advance, gave them my name, my order and when I would be in and they said no problem. I was impressed they didnt want payment of any kind ahead of time knowing that I was placing a sizable order. They will also custom trim any of the cuts you order from them. Great shop.

Simchick just wins. Great meat and a neighborhood fixture.

Thank goodness for Simchick. I say this because they have saved me many many times. This local butcher delivers, lets you create an account, and reads your mind. The meat here is fantastic quality and extremely fresh. the expert butchers cut the meat to your specifications right next to you… not behind the counter, next to you. If you have to cook dinner quickly, their pre-​marinated and seasoned meats are a fantastic option, and their side dishes are very good too. if you have any questions about preparation, the butchers are experts in that area too, and they will answer any questions you have. they will even teach you to make something you’ve never made before. it took me too long to realize this, but the butcher is a cheaper place to buy meat than the grocery store, and the difference in quality and raising is obviously light years.

Simchick’s moved to First and 54^th St. A measly two blocks, but have to say the new location is infinitely more convenient to me and my lazy little (relatively) feet. It’s now near a wine shop. Wine and meat, what more do you need for lunch or dinner?
The cuts are always good. The butchers are quick and knowledgeable. The establishment cozy and clean. Some of the best steaks I’ve gotten EVER… While looking at meat, you’ll touch shoulders w/​your neighbors, which is kinda nice.
They offer bacon, lamb, veal, beef, chicken, turkey, and some organic meats. They offer side items, such as double stuffed potatoes.
It is PRICEY so don’t gulp… savor your meat while you chew.